Two new polio cases reported, national tally reaches 21

ISLAMABAD: Two new polio cases have been confirmed in Badin district of Sindh and Lower Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of polio cases in Pakistan to 21 in 2025, according to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC).

The NEOC said that a nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign will begin on September 1. Parents have been urged to ensure their children under the age of five receive both polio drops and routine immunisations.

Also read: New polio case arises from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district

Earlier this month, additional cases were reported from Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On August 6, a case was confirmed in Union Council Suleman Khel, Lakki Marwat. On August 1, a case was also confirmed in Tank district, affecting a 10-month-old child.

So far this year, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 13 polio cases, including three from Bannu, three from Lakki Marwat, two from Tank, two from North Waziristan, and one each from Torghar, Dera Ismail Khan, and Lower Kohistan.

Sindh has reported six cases, while Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan have reported one each.

The NEOC noted that southern KP remains a high-risk area. A special polio eradication plan is being implemented under the supervision of the KP Chief Secretary.

Since September 2024, six national vaccination campaigns have been carried out, each covering over 45 million children. Two more national drives and one sub-national campaign are planned for the remainder of 2025.

Also read: WHO blames Pakistan, Afghanistan for ongoing global polio threat

Earlier in August, the World Health Organization (WHO) had said that ‘Pakistan and Afghanistan remain responsible for the international spread of the polio virus’. The organisation also said that both countries need enhanced bilateral cooperation to combat the disease. Polio vaccination remains mandatory for international travelers from Pakistan.

Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can only be prevented with repeated anti-polio vaccination, administered to children until the age of five years.